FEAS participated at the Bank of Albania and South East European Studies at Oxford Conference

September 20th, 2013

Prof. Dr. Güngör Turan, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, participated at the Bank of Albania and South East European Studies at Oxford Conference held on September 19, 2013, with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama, on “Strengthening Linkages in south East Europe Policy Anchors and Business Perspectives”. Representatives of Bank of Albania, Central Bank of Kosovo, Central Bank of Montenegro, Bank of Greece, Central Bank of Republic of Turkey, St. Antony`s College Oxford, Mission Chief of IMF, public and private universities, academicians, representatives of labor offices and employment agencies were also present at the Conference.

The past four years have seen major adjustments in South East European economies in the wake of shocks from global markets and from the euro area. The profile of institutional changes underway in the EU/ euro area is now taking shape more clearly. It is also becoming more apparent what permanent changes for the region may result from these events, for example in terms of the pattern of growth and the scale and composition of financial flows.

It is thus a promising moment to take stocks of these changes and to explore, specifically, two sets of issues. First, there is a question on how far official policies across the region can be strengthened and anchored more deeply over the medium term-laying a stronger foundation for growth, and ensuring that shocks to the public finances during the crisis can be reversed at a suitable pace, and fiscal space rebuilt for the future. Second, it is valuable to reflect on what kinds of economic linkages are developing across the region, and what these trends tell us about remaining barriers or challenges for economic co-operation and the creation of a wider regional market.